Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-06-17

1
going out he had to pass by waiting
room. He casually looked through
hole in the panel of the door that
opened into that room In that room
sight met his gaze the effect of
which almost froze his blood.
Was it Cora's face he saw, or was
it the phantom of his love?
To assure himself he peered again;
the truth was very patent. Her arms
were entwined around tall, manly
form, but he could not see the face,
as the back was turned towards him.
The usher, noticing his wild fixed
gaze, drew him to one side and asked
him if he was sick.
A glass of water was all be desir-
ed, as he sat or rather fell into chair.
He told the man that it was an at
tack of the vertigo; it would soon be
oyer He felt as though his reason
was leaving him; strange phantasies
shot through his brain.
That Cora loved another, and that
person d convicted felon, was his first
/ L. De lCtIlOlC u S1bh
into his soul like poisoned shaft. A
craving for revenge on the man he
had Just seen all but controlled him.
That man should never live to en-
joy the happiness that should be his.
The usher in his dismay was about
to shout for help, thinking he was
Gagged with q mailman. when Harlow
suddenly sprang to his side and
hoarsely whispered
"Who is that man in the other
room?"
The latter seeing that his compan-
ion had subsidized somewhat in wild
ness, deigned to reply.
1t was John Lane, who was about
to be discharged from prison. He
had been convicted of forgery and had
served fifteen years. sentence. The
woman was his daughter. This was
all he knew.
The sudden revulsion in Harlow's
feelings stunned him; he reeed and
would have fallen had not the usher
caught him in time; he slipped gold
coin into the hands of the usher and
left the prison.
He sought tree near by, whose
large dropping branches afforded a
good ensconcemenl, and throwing
hir's self on the green grasses, began
to ruminate over the exciting circum
stances which had just taken place.
That was indeed one of the happiest
moments of his life. His heart never
beat so lightly before.
The words, "noble, grand girl" es-
capped his lips in the delirium of his
delight. Ah! now he knew the rea-
son of her magnanimous sacrifice; of
her refusal to accept the hand of the
man she loved. The filial love was
paramount to all other affections.
Why had she not told him all? So
great was his love be could have for
given everything.
He lay on the cool grass for some
time, turning over future plans, but
was at last reused from his blissful
thoughts by the approaching train
which was to bear him and his love
back to San Francisco.
He watched the devoted couple un-
til they boared the train, and then
took q seat himself in the rear coach
How different was the journey back
Every object along the road sparkled
like dazzling gem; every plot OF
grass disclosed some newborn charm;
the very air seemed to breathe hap
piness, John Harlow's new life be-
gan when he boarded the train that
afternoon. For reasons better known
to himself he did not see Cora Lane
for two weeks after the prison cpl
sode.
He allowed the excitement of the
past few weeks to completely die out
before he ventured to see her. Then
he found her and reiterated his indy
ing affection. They were soon mar
ried and returned to the East, but the
father remained in San Francisco,
where for many years he led a good,
useful life, and fully expiated his
past misdeeds. John buried the Sc
cret of his wife deep in his noble
heart, as regards that his lips were
forever silent. Often as he sits and
gazes into her large liquid eyes he
wonders if she reads his thoughts,
but as he never speaks of the reason
why for three long years she avoided
the man she loved, he rests content
ed that his secret is unknown to
her.